Imperial Image_sources and themes

Suetonius, para 64

'He brought up his daughter and grand-daughters strictly, even having them taught spinning and weaving, and forbidding them from doing or saying anything that could not be recorded openly in the imperial day-book. '

paragraph 65

'he was so ashamed of his daughter's misconduct that he had the Senate informed of it by a letter, read aloud by a quaestor; refused to see anyone for a long while; and even considered having her put to death.'

PATER PATRIAE

By contrasting these two comments of Suetonius, we can see how Augustus tried to ensure that his daughter and granddaughters could serve as role models but did not succeed.

Horace 3.6

'Our age, fertile in its wickedness, has first'/defiled the marriage bed, our offspring, and homes:/ disaster's stream has flowed from this source/ through the people and the fatherland.'

PATER PATRIAE

This source pre-dates Augustus' moral legislation which rises an interesting question about the ability of poets not only to reflect but to inspire policies. It could also indicate that the need for moral reformation was widely felt in society.

Res Gestae, para 1

At the age of nineteen, on my own initiative, and at my own expense, I raised an army, by way of which I liberated the republic.

IMPERATOR

Augustus justifies his civil wars (in this case Mutina against Anthony in 43 BC) as needed to protect the republic

Horace 4.15

'the fame and majesty of our empire, were spread from the sun's lair in the west, to the regions where it rises at dawn.

with Caesar protecting the state, no civil disturbances will banish the peace, no violence, no anger that forges swords'

IMPERATOR/CULTURE HERO

Horace saw no contradiction between an imperialistic policy and peace. Augustus brings civil peace to a world dominated by Rome.

Suetonius (para 31)

'at the Secular Games young people might only attend night-time performances when chaperoned.'

PATER PATRIAE

This quote of Suetonius indicates Augustus' determination to enforce strict moral standards.

Paragraph 19-24 of the Res Gestae enumerate the extensive building programme undertaken by Augustus and the numerous games, athletic contests etc given by Augustus.

CULTURE HERO

It is clear that Augustus values greatly the contribution he made to Rome as a prestigious capital for the empire. He was following in the footsteps of Caesar and other previous leaders and had probably been influenced by his visit to Alexandria, whose grandiosity he admired.

Horace, carmen seculare

'Now Faith and Peace, Honour, and ancient Modesty, /Dare to return once more, with neglected Virtue, /

And blessed Plenty dares to appear again, now, /With her flowing horn.'

CULTURE HERO/ PATER PATRIAE

Horace' s description of the golden past is based on morality. 'Blessed Plenty' will come back when Modesty and Virtue have returned.

Cupid riding a dolphin in the Prima Porta are both references to Venus

AUGUSTUS/ DIVI FILIUS

This source highlights the divine ancestry of Augustus, as a member of the Julian family.

Augustus is barefoot in the Prima Porta.

AUGUSTUS

Some critics think that the barefoot 'version' of the Prima Porta was made after Augustus' death, and subsequent deification. They argue that, during his lifetime, Augustus was careful not to offend Roman sensitivities by presenting himself as a divine ruler. (Yes being barefoot was an indication of divinity!)

Suetonius (para 31) says that Augustus edited the Sybilline books, burned all other books of prophecy in circulation and transferred the Sybilline books to the temple of Apollo.

AUGUSTUS

This highlights how Augustus is increasing the importance of his patron god, Apollo. He is also monopolising the issuing of prophecies.

Horace, 3.6

'Romans, though you're guiltless, you'll still expiate/ your fathers' sins, till you've restored the temples,/and the tumbling shrines of all the gods, /and their images, soiled with black smoke. '

AUGUSTUS/ PATER PATRIAE

This is the first verse of 3.6: the state of disrepair of the temples is clearly significant, indicating moral decadence and provoking the anger of the gods.

Res Gestae, paragraph 22:

'On behalf of the college of the quindecimviri, as master of the college, I celebrated the Secular Games, with my colleague Marcus Agrippa, during the consulship of Gaius Furius and Gaius Silanus.'

AUGUSTUS/ CULTURE HERO

Augustus introduced many changes to the traditional format of these games and manipulated the dates to make the celebration coincide with the adoption of Lucius.

Suetonius, paragraph 31:

'He also revived various ancient rites which had lapsed with time, such as the augury of the Goddess Safety, the office of Flamen Dialis, the festival of the Lupercalia, the Secular Games, and the festival of the Compitalia'

AUGUSTUS

Suetonius' comment show that the restoration of ancient practices by Augustus concerned both priesthoods and festivals.

Res Gestae, paragraph 7

'I was pontifex maximus, augur, one of the fifteen commissioners for performing priestly duties, one of the seven priests responsible for sacred feasts, Arval brother, companion of Titius and fetial priest.'

AUGUSTUS

Augustus enumerates his various priesthoods alongside his position as 'princeps senatus', highlighting their importance. It was common for Roman leaders to be members of a priestly college and Caesar had been 'pontifex maximus' since 63BC, but no one had ever held so many.

Res Gestae, paragraph 10

'...I received the priesthood, in the consulship of Publius Sulpicius and Gaius Valgus, on the death of the man who had held it since the occasion of civil disturbance, with a multitude gathering together for my election from the whole of Italy, so many as had never been seen before that time in Rome. '

AUGUSTUS

Augustus here recalls his election as 'pontifex maximus' in 12BC. It is clearly important to him to point out how this was the result of popular choice, so he was the legitimate religious leader.

Propertius 3.4

'the rewards are great'

'I'll press my dear girl..and scan the names of captured cities'

IMPERATOR

Propertius demonstrates an ambivalent attitude here, highlighting the great rewards that await men on foreign campaigns but preferring not to be part of them himself.

Propertius 3.12

'how could you leave..'

'may all you greedy ones perish'

IMPERATOR

Propertius appears to reduce the foreign campaigns to pursuit of riches and misery for people left at home.

Res Gestae, paragraph 4

'Twice I earned ovations and three times I celebrated curule triumphs .. when the senate voted to me further triumphs, I declined them.'

IMPERATOR

During Augustus' years the use of triumphs is reduced and becomes the preserve of the imperial family. The last general outside the imperial family to celebrate a triumph was Balbus in 19 BC. Augustus himself did not celebrate any triumphs after 29 BC, preferring to memorialise his victories through monuments, such as the Parthian arch.

Ovid (Met 15) has Jupiter enumerate the future victories of Octavian in the civil wars. 'he will have us with him, in battle, as the most courageous avenger of his father's murder.'

IMPERATOR/DIVI FILIUS

The civil wars are shown as an act of filial piety, which Jupiter and the other gods will support. Antony is only 'a Roman general'. The civil wars are turned into an episode of mythology.

Suetonius (para 20)

'Augustus commanded in person in only two foreign campaigns'

but in para 21

'Either as commander in the field, or as commander-in-chief of the armies under his auspices, he conquered Cantabria, Aquitania, Pannonia, Dalmatia, and all Illyricum, as well as Raetia with the Alpine tribes of the Vindelici and Salassi.'

IMPERATOR

It is clear from Suetonius' account, that Augustus was given credit for military victories won by other generals; Agrippa, Tiberius and Drusus all commanded armies 'under his auspices'

Res Gestae, paragraph 4

'I was named imperator twenty one times'

IMPERATOR

Augustus here is claiming credit for military campaigns won by other generals - he only actively campaigned in Dalmatia and Cantabria (as well as in campaigns during the civil wars) - this claim is technically correct as he was in charge of all the military provinces and the generals acted under his auspices.

In the Prima Porta Augustus is portrayed in the 'adlocutio' pose, in the act of addressing an army.

IMPERATOR

Augustus is shown as confident in his role of military leader; he is shown as strong and youthful, but also after victory, rather than during battle, and looking into the distance. He is not constricted by his role as a general.

Ovid, met. 15

'There is no greater achievement among Caesar's actions than that he stood father to our emperor'

DIVI FILIUS

Augustus is greater than Caesar, he is not defined by Caesar.

The aureus of 43 BC depicts Augustus' head on the obverse and Caesar's laureate head on the obverse.

DIVI FILIUS

The coin encourages an association between the two men, who are both depicted in profile, with the same name, and for each a magistracy and a priesthood is given.

The aureus of 43 depicts Octavian's head on obverse with the inscriptions of his titles: consul, augur. On the reverse is Caesar's titles of dictator in perpetuity and pontifex maximus. He is wearing a laurel wreath.

Divi Filius

Octavian's relationship with Caesar is emphasised, the fact Caesar is depicted wearing laurel wreath shows his victories. Both leaders are given the same name and have similar portraits, which further highlights their similarity to establish Augustus' authority.

Pax coinage depicting Octavian on the obverse and Pax the goddess of peace on the reverse holding an olive branch & cornucopia.

Culture hero It shows a new prosperous golden age after a period of civil wars and unrest at the time that the coin was minted [32-29 BC]. This communicated his promise that through war, there would be peace.

Ovid - Metamorphoses

"When the world is at peace, he will turn his mind to the civil code, and, as the most just of legislators, make law. He will direct morality by his own example."

Pater Patriae

Augustus is shown providing the perfect examples of moral standard himself. It also refers to the Julian laws. A hint of irony here perhaps?

Prima Porta: dolphin and Cupid clinging to Octavian's ankle

Divi filius

Links Augustus to the Divine by associating him with Cupid, henceforth to Venus.

Prima Porta: defeated peoples on the edges of the breastplate

IMPERATOR

Shows defeated provincials on either side of the return of the standards.

Prima Porta: the goddess Dawn scattering dew while the night is drawn away

CULTURE HERO: A new Golden Age is being ushered by Dawn.

Prima Porta: the image of Pax/Mother Earth depicted holding a cornucopia

CULTURE HERO:

This image of plenty, which includes nature productivity and human fertility, represents Rome beginning to flourish and proper in newfound peace

Prima Porta: The image on the breastplate of a Parthian and Roman

IMPERATOR: An unarmed Parthian is returning the standards to a Roman general, indicating that Parthia had submitted and, though not part of the empire, accepted Roman superiority.

Prima Porta: The images of Apollo and Diana on the bottom of the breastplate.

AUGUSTUS

This shows that Augustus has the support and protection of Apollo and Diana. These gods were also honoured in the saecular games.

Horace- 4.15 To Augustus: 'freed at last from all war...and has driven out crime and summoned the ancient arts again, by which the of Rome and Italian power grew great.'

CULTURE HERO

this shows that Augustus has freed Rome from war. 'summoned the ancient arts again' and is bringing back the old practices and standards.

Horace -4.4 Drusus and the Claudians: 'but those hordes, triumphant everywhere, for so long, were conquered by the young man's strategies.'

IMPERATOR/ pater patriae

Horace praises Augustus' constant success, achieved through his stepson Drusus.

Horace- 4.4 Drusus and the Claudians: 'they came to realise...by Augustus' fatherly feelings towards his stepsons, the Neros, could do.'

PATER PATRIAE

Augustus is praised for having raised his stepsons, ensuring their natural abilities came to fruition.

Horace- Carmen Seculare: 'Will bring back the singing again, bring back the games'

CULTURE HERO: C Refers to the hope that the Secular games would be repeated in the future and continue to see Rome prosper.

Coinage depicting Augustus on the obverse, and religious symbols on then reverse. Minted in 12 BC, year when Augustus became pontifex maximus.

Augustus This coin reinforces his link to religious institutions

"If it's permitted may all you greedy ones perish equally, and whoever else prefers his weapon to a faithful bride" - Propertius, Chaste and faithful Galla

IMPERATOR

Propertius is critical of Augustus' foreign campaigns, which endanger that very stability of the family which the moral legislation appeared to pursue.

"my bow is on your side, and every arrow burdening my quiver favours you" - (Apollo to Augustus), Propertius, The Temple of Palatine Apollo

AUGUSTUS/IMPERATOR Propertius highlights Augustus' link to the divine by writing how Apollo favours Augustus and will fight for him. Does this diminish Augustus' military achievements?

Propertius, war and peace - "Caesar, our god, plots war against rich India, cutting the straits, in his fleet, across the pearl bearing ocean"

IMPERATOR - although 'rich India' was never targetted for conquest, Propertius implies that it was in order to exaggerate the scale of Rome (and Augustus') power. This glorification, however, contrasts with Propertius watching from the sidelines.

Soon to bear still more sinful children' Moral Decadence

Culture Hero Horace doesn't believe a golden age will come. Pessimistic. Morals will only get worse. Or is it a warning that UNLESS something is done, Rome's on a downward slope?

'Parthians and Monaeses and Pacorus have crushed our inauspicious assaults' Moral Decadence

Pater patriae/imperator:

Horace says that the Romans are threatened by foreign enemies, because their moral standards have been lost.

The young men who stained the Punic Sea with blood they were not born of such parentage' Moral Decadence

Pater patriae Military victory was brought about by morally upright soldiers. Refers to war with Carthage - 218-201BC.

Now's the time to beat the earth with unfettered feet' Cleopatra, Horace

Imperator

asking to celebrate Cleopatra's death. 'Unfettered' - unbound. Dancing.

'As the sparrow-hawk follows the gentle dove' Cleopatra, Horace

Imperator

Octavian was relentless and had good speed. Cleopatra is now shown to be vulnerable instead of a threat.

'It would have been wrong, before today, to broach the Caecuban wines' - Cleopatra, Horace

Imperator

Written in 23BC, 7 years after Battle of Actium. Keeping threat of Cleopatra alive? Reminding people how much they need Augustus?

'When...shall I delight with you in Caesar's triumph...?' - A toast to Actium, Horace

Imperator

Horace is asking Maecenas to celebrate Octavian's victory at Actium.

'In the war with Jugurtha, you never returned such a general to us' - A toast to Actium, Horace

Imperator

Horace is comparing Octavian to previous great generals who fought wars in the East. , Scipio Africanus led Rome's armies during the Second Punic War against Carthage (218-201 BC). He led Rome to victory over Hannibal in the Battle of Zama, the final battle of the conflict.

'Shameful pavilion' - A toast to Actium, Horace

Pater Patriae

Unlike Octavian, Cleopatra indulges in luxury

'From those faithless slaves, his friends' - A toast to Actium, Horace

Imperator

Sextus Pompey encouraged slaves to join him - Octavian fought against him and won at Naulochus in 36 BC.

'A Roman, you'll not credit it, posterity' - A toast to Actium, Horace

Imperator

Horace here refers to Antony, but not by name. Conveys sense of shame - wiped out from history.

'Deeply-corrupted creatures' Cleopatra, Horace

Pater Patriae/Imperator

Her people are corrupted by luxuries, degraded to the point of being sub-human 'creatures'. Contrast to Octavian's conservatism